The Canton Seniors Book Group meets on the fourth Thursday of the month from 2:00-3:00 PM in Canton Public Library's Group Study Room A. We meet every month except December. Information Services librarians, Elaine Skrzynski and Joyce Simowski, alternate leading the discussion. Copies of the discussion book are distributed at the monthly meeting or request a copy at the Adult Services Help Desk. No registration required.

South of Broad: a novel by Pat Conroy meets July 25

Case histories: a novel by Kate Atkinson meets August 22

River of doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's darkest journey by Candice Millard meets September 26

Say nice things about Detroit by Scott Lasser meets October 24

The Paris wife: a novel by Paula McLain meets November 21

Two days have been set aside to honor the memory of those who have served America in the armed forces:

• Veterans Day — November 11th
• Memorial Day — last Monday in May

The resources below are a good way to learn about our nation's armed conflicts and honor the memory of those who served to protect our nation.

Women Veterans

America's first woman warrior: the courage of Deborah Sampson by Lucy Freeman and Alma Halbert Bond — The biography of the only woman soldier to fight in the Revolutionary War.

Good to great [kit]: why some companies make the leap— and others don't by Jim Collins — Using tough benchmarks, Collins and his research team identified a set of elite companies that made the leap to great results and sustained those results for at least fifteen years. The research team then contrasted these good-to-great companies with a carefully selected set of comparison companies that failed to make the leap from good to great. After sifting through mountains of data and thousands of pages of interviews, Collins and his crew discovered the key determinants of greatness — why some companies make the leap and others don't. The findings may surprise many readers and shed light on virtually every area of management strategy and practice.

Michigan Week (May 18-25) is a good time to remember the state's celebrated natives from all walks of life. Communities across Michigan can lay claim to renowned authors, artists, musicians, actors, athletes, politicians, inventors and more. Film makers Francis Ford Coppola, Sam Raimi, Michael Moore, and Paul Schrader were all born in Michigan. Just some of the world famous musicians born here include Stevie Wonder, Kenny Burrell, Betty Carter, Earl Klugh, Bog Seger, Glen Frey, Madonna, and Iggy Pop. Actors born in the state include Bruce Campbell, Tom Selleck, Lily Tomlin, Ellen Burstyn, Kristen Bell, Julie Harris, George Peppard, George C. Scott, Danny Thomas, and Marlo Thomas — the list goes on. Noteworthy authors such as Edna Ferber, Terry McMillan, Judith Guest and Marguerite De Angeli are also Michigan natives. Famous Michigan born athletes include baseball players Charlie Gehringer, Jim Abbott and Hal Newhouser. Find out more about our state's notable heritage by checking out some of the following items from the Library's collection.

Alden B. Dow: midwestern modern by Diane Maddex — Architect

The Dodge brothers: the men, the motor cars, and the legacy by Charles K. Hyde — Automobile engineers

George Washington, spymaster: how the Americans outspied the British and won the Revolutionary War by Thomas B. Allen ; featuring illustrations by Cheryl Harness

The worst of friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the true story of an American feud by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain ; illustrations by Larry Day

Marooned: the strange but true adventures of Alexander Selkirk, the real Robinson Crusoe by Robert Kraske ; illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker

Lincoln's grave robbers by Steve Sheinkin

One dead spy: the life, times, and last words of Nathan Hale, America's most famous spy by [text and illustrations], Nathan Hale

May is a month full of celebrations: National Teachers' Day, Mothers' Day, Memorial Day, Older Adults Month...

I'd like to apologize to every teacher I ever had: my year as a rookie teacher at Northeast High by Tony Danza

The shared wisdom of mothers and daughters: the timelessness of simple truths by Alexandra Stoddard

The legacy: Honor Flight Michigan by Timothy W. Downey ; with Melissa Downey, Catherine Kavanaugh, Gabe Downey

30 lessons for living: tried and true advice from the wisest Americans by Karl Pillemer

Celebrations: rituals of peace and prayer by Maya Angelou

The 2013 Edgar Allan Poe Awards were announced on Thursday, May 2 in New York. A complete list of the nominees and award winners is available at Mystery Writers of America.

Live by night by Dennis Lehane

The expats: a novel by Chris Pavone

Midnight in Peking: how the murder of a young Englishwoman haunted the last days of old China by Paul French

We're not just reading, we're listening to audiobooks and watching videos.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society [sound recording] by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows

The lost art of mixing by Erica Bauermeister

Peyton Place [videodisc] by Twentieth Century Fox presents a CinemaScope picture ; Jerry Wald's production

A wrinkle in time: the graphic novel by [Madeleine L'Engle] ; adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson ; [colored by Jenn Manley Lee]

Putumayo presents Jazz around the world [sound recording]

Lost in Shangri-La: a true story of survival, adventure, and the most incredible rescue mission of World War II by Mitchell Zuckoff

Every man in this village is a liar [Large print]: an education in war by Megan K. Stack

The American Revolution [Large print]: a history by Gordon S. Wood

Victory at Yorktown [Large print]: the campaign that won the Revolution by Richard M. Ketchum

The zookeeper's wife [Large print]: a war story by Diane Ackerman

Behind the beautiful forevers [kit] by Katherine Boo — In this brilliantly written, fast-paced book, based on three years of uncompromising reporting, a bewildering age of global change and inequality is made human. Annawadi is a makeshift settlement in the shadow of luxury hotels near the Mumbai airport, and as India starts to prosper, Annawadians are electric with hope. With intelligence, humor, and deep insight into what connects human beings to one another in an era of tumultuous change, Behind the Beautiful Forevers carries the reader headlong into one of the twenty-first century's hidden worlds, and into the lives of people impossible to forget.

We've added one of the cutest books ever to our Pet collection. It's called Newborn Puppies: dogs in their first three weeks. This colorful pictorial book features a variety of breeds at the beginning of their puppyhood. Puppies need care and training so check out this book, Complete Guide to Puppy Care as well. Once the weather warms up, take your pup to Preservation Park in Canton for some fun and exercise!

To quote Mark Twain "Truth is stranger than fiction..." and the following titles are certainly proof of that!

Lord Minimus: the extraordinary life of Britain's smallest man by Nick Page — Th true story of Jeffrey Hudson, the 18-inch "official dwarf" of the 17th century Stuart court.

The last alchemist: Count Cagliostro, master of magic in the age of reason by Iain McCalman — A fascinating account of the career of one of the most famous charlatans of the 18th century, Count Alessandro di Cagliostro, who traveled all over Europe - usually one step ahead of the authorities - passing himself off as an alchemist and a healer.

Agent Zigzag: a true story of Nazi espionage, love, and betrayal by Ben MacIntyre — Eddie Chapman was a charming criminal, a con man, and a philanderer. He was also one of the most remarkable double agents Britain has ever produced.

Autism spectrum disorders: what every parent needs to know by editors, Alan I. Rosenblatt, Paul S. Carbone ; with Winnie Yu

The autistic brain: thinking across the spectrum by Temple Grandin and Richard Panek

The spark: a mother's story of nuturing genius by Kristine Barnett

Autism, the invisible cord: a sibling's diary by Barbara Cain

Autism: the scientific truth about preventing, diagnosing, and treating autism spectrum disorders—and what parents can do now by Robert Melillo

Please join the Adult Contemporary Book Discussion Group on Monday, May 20 at 7:00 PM in the Purple Room to discuss:

In the presence of my enemies by Gracia Burnham, with Dean Merrill — A gripping true story of American missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham’s year as hostages in the Philippine jungle, was a New York Times best seller and has sold nearly 350,000 copies. Now releasing in trade softcover for the first time, this updated edition has a new look and contains never-before-published information on the capture and trial of the Burnhams’ captors; Gracia’s secret return trip to the Philippines; and updates on recent events in Gracia’s life, ministry, and family.

The Canton Public Library is celebrating Earth Day from April 14-27 with a series of entertaining and educational programs. Topics include bat conservancy, organic eating, buying local food, and rain gardens. The week will wrap up with a fantastic performance by authentic Native American Dancers. The Library's collection if full of excellent books, dvds, and cds to help you celebrate with us:

America's neighborhood bats by Merlin D. Tuttle

The bat house builder's handbook by Merlin D. Tuttle, Mark Kiser, Selena Kiser

Bats by M. Brock Fenton

Wildlife heroes: 40 leading conservationists and the animals they are committed to saving by Julie Scardina and Jeff Flocken ; with photo editor Sterling Zumbrunn

Celebrate National Poetry Month by getting to know more about the lives of some of our greatest poets:

Longfellow: a rediscovered life by Charles C. Calhoun

Yeats's ghosts: the secret life of W.B. Yeats by Brenda Maddox

Dylan Thomas: a new life by Andrew Lycett

From noon to starry night: a life of Walt Whitman by Philip Callow

Rough magic: a biography of Sylvia Plath by Paul Alexander

Margaret Thatcher, Britain's only female prime minister has passed away at the age of 87. Thatcher served as the leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990 and was known as the Iron Lady.

Reagan and Thatcher: the difficult relationship by Richard Aldous

Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher: a political marriage by Nicholas Wapshott

The Iron Lady: a biography of Margaret Thatcher by Hugo Young

The Downing Street years by Margaret Thatcher

The rise and fall of Margaret Thatcher [videodisc]

The perfect book for a book discussion is one that's not too easy, not too hard, that will hold the interest of a diverse group of readers and will also inspire a lively discussion. For additional book club resources the Canton Public Library offers a wide variety of  Book Club in a Bag kits.

A collection of fictional biographies, War of 1812, baseball and Jackie Robinson, the Stanley Cup, and satire...

Thomas the Tank Engine pulls into Greenfield Village at the end of the month. How have trains shaped America's history?

 

The great railroad revolution: the history of trains in America by Christian Wolmar

Railroads across North America: an illustrated history by Claude Wiatrowski

The robber barons: the great American capitalists, 1861- 1901 by Matthew Josephson